Match box



D. 0Q FORD May 13, 1941,

MATCH BOX Filed July 9, 193a INVENTOR DAVID 0. FORD ATTORNEYS AZIM W Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE David Otis Ford, Petersburg, Va. Application July 9, 1938, Serial No. 218,264

11 Claims.

The invention relates in general to. a package for containing and ejecting one or more contained articles of merchandise from a plurality of such articles vended in the original package and the invention specificallyrela'tes to a match box.

Match boxes of the type now in general use are extremely dangerous. They are usually provided with a strike surface closely located to the exposed heads of the Packaged matches so that;

the user in igniting a Withdrawn match not infrequently sets the balance of the matches on fire. Another difliculty inherent in the present form of packaged matches is that they are usually in book form or otherwise more or less 52 closed position will completely seal its contained;

matches, pills or other articles and which can be quickly and easily opened at will to permit the ejection of one or two of the articles at a time while keeping the remaining articles, as far as possible, within an otherwise closed container and in this way defeat accidental discharging of more of the contents than is desired and to conceal and protect the balance of the articles not for the moment exposed through the opening.

Considering the disclosure particularly in its specific use as a match box, the invention has for objectives the providing of a box from which only one, or at the most only two, matches are ejected or partly ejected at each opening of the box which even when open will protect the matches remaining in the boxfrom accidental igniting; which will protect the scratch or strike surfaces when not in use and which will present the strike surface in position forconvenient use only when the box is opened.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in closed position and showing one of the normally concealed strike surfaces in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the match box of Fig. l in open position and with another of the strike surfaces exposed in juxtaposition to the discharge opening; and

Figs, 3 and 4 are each plan views of blanks from which the parts of the showings in Figs. 1 and 2 are constructed; Fig. 3 being a blank from which the match container is formed and Fig. 4 being the blank from which the outer casing is formed.

The match box comprises two telescopically mounted rectangular members formed from cardboard and comprising an inner match container I0 slidably mounted in an outer casing II. The outer casing is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 4 cut and scored to shape and comprises primarily an elongated body portion I2 which comprises five long narrow sections, reading from left to right of Fig. 4, a securing flap l3, a back .14, one side l5, a front l6 and the opposite side I! and which sections are secured to the next adjacent section by score lines I8. From one edge of each of the back and front projects a pair of tabs I9 and 20; the tabs are separated from the body portion by aligned score lines 2|.

The edge of the front opposite the edge pro vided with the tabs is provided with an extension forming a closure 22 connected to the front along a hinge score line 23 and having a width equal to the width of the corresponding front IS. The projection considered outwardly of the closure 22 forms a long tongue 24 of less width than the closure to provide an open space 25 at one edge of the tongue. The front is provided with an elongated opening 26. 'The portion of the tongue immediately adjacent the closure is provided with a strike surface 2'! designed to constitute the top of the package when in the open position shown in Fig. 2.

The match container ID is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 3 and comprises an elongated body portion 28 formed of parallel sections designated from left to right: a securing flap 29, front 30, one of the sides 3|, back 32 and the other side 33. The front 30, side 3! and back 32 are provided respectively with flap extensions 34, 35 and 36 connected to the body portions by a score line 31. The opposite edge of the back is provided with an extension 38. The extension 38 is of less width than the back and both the extension, the side 33 and a portion of the back 32 adjacent thereto, are cut back to provide space 39 to form discharge opening 4!] in the finally completed container. The extension 38 is connected to the back 32 along a score line 4| and is provided with a parallel score line 42, The part of the extension between the score lines 4| and 42 form the top 43 of the closed container. The back is provided with an elongated strike surface 44 designed to register with elongated opening 25 in the outer casing when the container is elevated from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2, as hereinafter more fully described.

In constructing the outer casing from the blank shown in Fig. 4, the several parts are bent conventionally along the score lines l8, 2! and 23 as shown, the tabs l9 and 20 forming the bottom are connected in associated pairs to form a bottom to the completed casing and which bottom will form the finger receiving recess 45 particu larly shown in Fig. 2. The closure and associated tongue are bent first sharply along the hinge score line 23 and 46 and then bent a little less definitely along the line so that the closure and tongue form what might be called a roll top for the casing.

In forming the container, the body portion is bent along the score lines 49 with the flap 29 glued to the side 33 and the bottom forming extensions 34, 35 and 36 bent along the score line 3'! glued together to form a permanently closed bottom to the container. Similarly the extension 38 is folded along the score lines 4| and 42 and glued in place so that except for the opening 40 the container is completely closed.

The container It! as thus formed is filled with the matches, pills or other contents, and is inserted in the open top of the outer casing H. The extreme end 59 of the tongue 24 is then tucked in between the front 3!! of the container opposite the hinge connection at 23 and the adjacent back I4 of the casing, approximately in the position of the tongue shown in Fig. 2. The container may then be lowered into the position shown in Fig. 1 by bearing down on top of the upper exposed part of the tongue and its associated closure and eventually the parts will be lowered into closed position shown in Fig. 1.

In operation and to open the package, the operator holding the casing in one hand engages the portion of the bottom of the container exposed through the open bottom of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1, and pushes upwardly of the container. This has the efiect of elevating the container and the top of the container reacting upon the closure 22 moves the same into the upstanding position shown in Fig. 2. At the same time the upwardly moving container causes the section provided with the strike surface 21 to assume the horizontal position shown but the parts are so proportioned that at no time will the tongue as a whole be withdrawn from its position tucked into the casing. It is found in practice that while it is relatively easy to lift the closure into the open position shown in Fig. 2, it is difficult to move the container any further upwardly. This is due to the fact that the line 46 is rather sharply defined and thus causes the part of the tongue provided with the strike surface 27 to extend sharply at right angles to the elevated closure and this part coacting with the part of the tongue still remaining in its upstanding position acts to form a rather positive stop to limit any further elevating movement of the container.

With the package in the position shown in Fig. 2, there is exposed only one or at most only two of the contained articles such as the matches illustrated and the remaining contents of the container are not exposed but are hid and concealed within the otherwise completely closed container. In actual practice, it has been found that a quick movement upwardly of the container has the eifect of ejecting or at least partly ejecting the match or matches which happen to be uncovered at the opening 48 so that there is more or less an automatic ejection of a single match or at most two matches by the simple operation of the package in moving it into an open position.

By means of a device of this character, it is thus possible to eject one article at a time without necessity of any material amount of manual lifting of the article out of its container and there is thus avoided the usual practice of tearing the match from its associates as may be desired. It is also noted that the possibility of accidentally igniting the unexposed matches remaining in the container is quite remote and in this way fire hazards are minimized.

It is noted that when the parts are in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the strike surface 44 on the container is offset below its associated opening 26 in the casing and in this way the strike surface is protected against absorption of moisture or other agencies which might'cause it to deteriorate. As the container is elevated from the position shown in Fig. 1, the strike surface is elevated from the dotted line position shown in this figure into position framed in the opening and thus exposed to have the head of the match struck thereon in igniting the match. There is also suggested as an alternative arrangement that the strike surface 2! be located on the tongue and in such position relative to the closure that when the closure is in the open position shown in Fig. 2, the strike surface forms the top of the assembly and thus readily available as a strike surface. From this construction it is noted that when the package is closed, the strike surface 21 is likewise concealed within the outlines of the casing and thus protected from dampness and like destructive agencies.

Iclaim:

1. A match box comprising an outer rectangular casing having its bottom and the opposite sides adjacent thereto at least partially open to provide a finger receiving recess and said casing provided at its upper end with a tongue integrally connected at one end to a side of the casing to form a roll type of closure hinged to the casing normally overlapping and thus closing the upper end of the casing, and said tongue having its other end tucked into the interior of the casing in all positions of the top, and an inner rectangular match container slidably mounted in the casing, provided at one side of its top and adjacent sides with a small discharge opening and otherwise completely closed, said container having its lower closed end exposed at the open lower end of the casing to permit the operator to push on the container to elevate the same against the tongue and thus cause the tongue to swing about its hinge and expose the small opening in the top of the container without withdrawing the free end of the tongue from its tucked-in position between a side of the container and the adjacent side of the casing, and said box provided with a strike surface concealed by the casing when in closed position and means operable when the container is elevated to expose said surface.

2. A match box comprising an outer rectangular casing having its bottom and the opposite sides adjacent thereto at least partially open to provide a. finger receiving recess and said casing provided at its upper end with a tongue integrally connected at one end to a side of the casing to form a roll type of closure hinged to the casing normally overlapping and thus closing the upper end of the casing, and said tongue having its other end tucked into the interior of the casing in all positions of the top, and an inner rectangular match container slidably mounted in the casing, provided at one side of its top and adjacent sides with a small discharge opening having a width equal to the width of the upper end of the casing and otherwise completely and permanently closed, said container when completely contained in the. casing having its lower closed end exposed through the side openings at the open lower end of the casing to permit the operator to push on the container to elevate the same against the tongue and thus cause the tongue to swing about its hinge and expose the small opening in the top of the container without withdrawing the free end of the tongue from its tucked-in position between a side of the container and the adjacent side of the casing.

3. A box comprising a preformed, rugged rectangular container having one side edge, its front and back side and top cut away to form a discharge opening in its top portion providing access into the interior of the container in two directions at right angles to each other and having a closed bottom, a casing in which the container is slidably mounted, said casing having a bottom provided with an opening to permit access to the bottom of the container to elevate the same upwardly in the casing, the top of the casing provided with a long tongue hingedly connected to one side of the casing, the-portion of the tongue immediately adjacent its hinge providing a closure for the top of the casing and when in operative position overlapping the top of the container to close its opening and the free end of said tongue being of less width thanthe closure to expose the discharge opening, said tongue being tucked in between the container and side of the container opposite the side to which the tongue is hinged, and said container having structural strength capable of acting when elevated in the casing to swing the closure into open position and to slide the free end of the tongue with a rolling action only partly out of its tucked-in position thereby to expose the discharge opening while retaining the tongue in position to permit an easy closing of the closure.

4. A match box including a preformed container adapted to receive matches and provided with a preformed discharge opening not materially greater than is necessary to permit the ejection from the container of one or two matches and said container being otherwise completely closed to minimize possibility of the entire contents of the container becoming accidentally ignited and a casing in which the container is slidably mounted, said casing provided with an extension hinged to its end adjacent the opening in the container and including a closure coextensive with said end for closing the opening in the container, said casing and container coacting in one relative position to locate the extension in position to close said opening and in an other position to expose said opening to permit the ejection of a single match.

5. A match box including a box-like rectangular match container having structural strength to maintain its initial rectangular configuration independent of its contents, and provided with a discharge opening of less area than the side of the container in which it is contained and otherwise completely closed, said side and opening acting to restrain the ejection of all but one or two matches at a time, a casing in which said container is slidably mounted and a closure for said opening hinged to the casing and adapted when in closed position to provide a double thickness of material for the major portion of the top side of the box and having an extension'tucked in between the container and the casing.

6. The combination of a preformed, rectangular container provided with a discharge opening at its upper end .and having structural strength to maintain its configuration when empty, a casing in which the container is slidably mounted, the upper end of the casing provided with an integral extension hinged thereto and forming a closure overlapping the container in all positions thereof, the portion of the extension immediately adjacent its hinge connection providing a hinged closure for the container and a top to the casing and the balance of the extension providing a tongue tucked between the container and the casing along sides thereof opposite the hinge, said tongue provided with a sharply defined score line to permit a portion of the tongue to extend at right angles across the path of movement of the container and tend to resist the freedom of movement of the container out of the casing.

7. The combination of a rectangular container provided with a discharge opening at its upper end, a casing in which the container is slidably mounted, the upper end of the casing provided with an integral extension hinged thereto and overlapping the container in all positions thereof, the portion of the extension immediately adjacent its hinge connection providing a hinged closure for the container and a top to the easing and the balance of the extension providing a tongue tucked between the container and the casing along sides thereof opposite the hinge, and said tongue provided with two parallel score lines, one defining the outer edge of the closure and the other spaced therefrom a distance equal to the width of the closure the portion of the tongue between the score lines fitting the upper end of the container when partlyv ejected from the casing and acting to provide a stop tending to resist further ejecting movement of the container.

8. A match box including a match container and a casing in which the container is slidably mounted, said casing provided with an extension constituting a closure for itself and for the container, said extension being integrally hinged at one end to the casing and in all positions overlapping the container and said boxprovided with a strike surface concealed and protected from dampness when the box is closed and shiftable into an exposed position incidental to the movement of the closure into open position.

9. A one-piece blank for forming a paper casing comprising in order longitudinally a flap, a

back, a side,. a front and a side, the front and back each provided with a a pair of tabs projecting from one edge and a tongue projecting from the opposite edge of the front, the portion of the tongue immediately adjacent its hinge connection with the front having the width of the front and the free end of the tongue beyond said portion being of equal width throughout its length but of less width than said portion and provided with a strike surface spaced from the hinge connection.

10. A one-piece blank for forming a paper casing and scored along parallel lines to form sections comprising in order longitudinally a flap, a back, a side, a front and a side, the front and back each provided with a pair of tabs projecting from one edge and a tongue projecting from the opposite edge of the front, the portion of the tongue immediately adjacent its hinge connection with the front having the width equal to that of the front and the free end of; the tongue beyond said portion being of less width than said portion, and said front provided with an elongated opening in spaced relation to its outlining edges.

11. A one-piece blank for forming a paper casing and scored along parallel lines to form sections comprising in order longitudinally a flap, a back, a side, a front and a side, the front and, back each provided with a pair of tabs projecting from one edge and a tongue projecting from the opposite edge of the front, the portion of the tongue immediately adjacent its hinge connection with the front having the width equal to that of the front and the free end of the tongue beyond said portion being of equal width throughout its length and of less width than said portion, and having one of its side edges aligned with the adjacent side edge of said por tion, said blank being provided along the junction of the tongue and the front with a hinge score line, and said tongue also provided with two equal length score lines parallel to each other and to the hinge score line and spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the portion adjacent the hinge connection.

DAVID OTIS FORD. 

